‘Wedding hazing’: Groom to sue friends for pranks gone wrong

Thought bachelor parties could get wild? In China, wedding hazing rituals can get so far out of control that one groom is suing his friends

INQUIRER.net stock photo

Historically, hazing rituals involved teasing the newlyweds in their bridal chambers to expel evil spirits. But as time went on, the ritual evolved into practical jokes, and these days, dangerous — even life-threatening — pranks.

A 24-year-old groom, Ai Guangtao, suffered multiple injuries on his wedding day in Guizhou province, after escaping his friends’ torturous acts, btime.com via South China Morning Post reported yesterday, Jan. 2.

The groom’s entourage hurled eggs at him and covered him in beer and black ink. He was tied to an electric pole with tape and then hit with bamboo — not quite the best preparation before walking down the aisle.

In his distress, he tried to flee and was chased by his friends. Unable to see properly because of the ink, he ran into a highway and was hit by a car which crashed into a barrier.

Ai was in the hospital for two weeks following the accident. On top of his physical and emotional pain, police held him responsible for the accident. He is being charged almost 30,000 yuan (almost P230,000) by the car insurance company.

Before his plan to file a lawsuit, his friends owned up to the accident and pooled more than 6,000 yuan (almost P46,000) to cover his medical expenses.

But because the insurance company is suing him, Ai decided to sue his friends.

Ai and his wife had their civil wedding the day before their ceremony. Even after the recovery, sadly, the wedding ceremony did not push through. Niña V. Guno/JB

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